Wave motor



Feb. 6, 1923. 1,444,693. 1. A. LYMBURNER.

WAVE MOTOR. FILED NOV-19. 1921- 3 SHEETS-SHEET Feb. 6, 1923. 4 1,444,693.

1. A. LYMBURNER. v

WAVE MOTOR.

FILED NOV. 19, 1921. a SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Fig.2.

Feb. 6, 1923. 1,444,693. J. A. LYMBURNER.

WA'VE MOTOR. FILED NOV. 19, 1921. 3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

@fiphA .Lymbumemwwwm Patented Feb. 1923, v

JOSEPH A. LYMBURNER, SAN FRANGISCQ, CALIFORNIA.

wavn moron.

Application filed November 19, 1921.

certain new and useful Improvements in Wave Motors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wave motors, and has for one of its objects to produce a device of this character adapted to be supported upon the bottom of the sea or other body of water in which waves are liable to'be produced by the wind, and including a float arranged to be elevated and depressed by the waves, and means whereby the vertical movement of the float is utilized to store up energy for future use, or to produce motion which may be transmitted to air pumps or other suitable devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character with a movable and adjustable shield or guard whereby abnormal force of the waves is prevented from displacing or otherwise interfering with the operation of the float.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in secq Attached to the float 19 and extending tion, of the improved apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a-transverse section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detached view, illustrating a modified form of the guide rollers.

The improved apparatus includes a plurality of combined guides and supporting posts 10 rigidly supported or anchored in a relatively heavy bed, represented conventionally at 11, of concrete or the like, on the bottom of the sea or other body of water in which waves are produced by the action of the wind. The posts are arranged to inclose a prescribed area, and any required number may be employed and spaced at any required distance, but for the purpose of illustration, five of the posts are shown.

The posts may be of any length and of any Serial No. 516,369.

suitable form or material but are preferably of channel. steel, as shown.

Encompassing the posts 10 at their upper ends and rigidly connected thereto is a band 12, while a similar band 13 encompasses the posts in spaced relation'to the upper band 12, and 1s rig1dly coupled thereto preferably by riveting. The bands 12 and 13 and the posts 10 are reinforced by diagonal braces '14. connected respectively to the bands, as

shown.

Bearing upon the posts 10 and the upper band 12, is a platform structure formed of sill members 15 and an annular floor portlon 16, the sill members being supported and reinforced from the lower band 13 by braces 17. 1 I

A plurality of devices'adapted to be actuated by the, power developed by the apparatus, for Instance air pumps, are supported on the platform 16, and represented conventionally at 18.

A float device of suitable construction and represented conventionally at 19, is located within the area defined by the posts, and provided with guide rollers 20 operating in the channels of the posts, as shown. By

this means the float is movable vertically with the minimum of friction and held from dis lacement laterally.

n Fig. 1, the rollers are single, while in Fig. '5 the rollers are double or of the twin class.d Either form may be employed as reulre above the same are gear rack bars 21, preferably midway between each pair of the posts 10, and coupled and supported at their up or ends by braces 22.

ounted upon the platform 16 adjacent each of the rack bars 21, is a standard 23, and mounted for rotation in each standard is a shaft 24, each shaft carrying a gear wheel 25 to be engaged by the gear racks, and a crank arm 26 coupled respectively to the piston rods 27 of the pump devices 18 byconnecting rods 28. By this arrangement it will be obvious that as the float is moved vertically, motion will be transmitted thereby to the pump pistons.

Slidably disposed upon the external faces of the posts 10 are shield plates 29, each provided with suitable guide rollers 30 engaging the posts 10 and thereby movable vertically of the posts with the minimum of friction. The members 29 are adapted to be adjusted upon the posts to unitedly form a shield or guard to the float in eventof the lateral force of the waves being abnormally strong, or liable to displace the float laterally, or in event of the lateral force of the Waves being greater than their lifting force.

Any suitable means may be employed to control the movement of the shield members, but for the purpose of illustration pull cables 31 are shown attached to the members 29 and operating over guide sheaves attached to the band 13.

The supporting members forthe posts and platform must be of ample strength and rigidity to Withstand the pressure and shock of the Waves, and may be of any form or proportion, depending on the location and the force of the Waves Where the device is The pumps may be employed to store up the air in receptacles for future use.-

lhe preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the drawings and set forth in the specification, but it will be understood that modificationswithin the scope of the claimed invention may be made in the emes construction Without departing from the principleof the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Haying'thus described the invention, What is claimed as new is 2- I 1. ln a Wave motor, a plurality of stationary guide posts in spaced relation and defining a prescribed area, a float movable wlthin the area defined by said posts and guided thereby, means for transmitting motion from said float, shield members bearing upon the outer faces of said posts, guide rollers carried by said shield devices and engaging the gulde posts, and means for vertically adjusting said shield members. I

2. In a Wave motor, a plurality'of stationary gulde posts in spaced relation and defining a prescribed area, a float movable wlthin the area defined by said posts and guided thereby, means for transmitting motion from said fioat, shield members encompassing said posts, and means for vertically adjusting said shield members.

lln testimony Where0f,'l afiix my signature hereto.

-JosEPH A. LYMBURNER. 

